Making SH1 a local road

State Highway 1 is a key resource in our local roading network. It services and connects our communities and facilitates the movement of people, freight and business through our district.

Within 24 months of the Kāpiti Expressway opening the current State Highway 1 (SH1), between Poplar Avenue and Peka Peka, will no longer be required for state highway purposes. It will become a fit-for-purpose local road.

Transitioning SH1 to a local road is a formal process. It involves “revoking” or removing SH1’s classification as a national highway and transferring responsibility for SH1 from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to Council.

Council is working with NZTA to design and deliver a fit-for-purpose local road that improves our districts resilience and enhances connectivity through and across the district. The Poplar Avenue to Peka Peka Road section of SH1 will continue to operate as an emergency by-pass route.

Improving accessibility to and from the Paraparaumu and Waikanae town centres and improving connections to and from rail and bus hubs, and enhancing cycling and walking options will be a key deliverable of this project.

In making SH1 a fit-for-purpose local road a variety of factors will be considered including the quality of the road, kerbs, shared paths, cycle lanes, planting and urban design, speed limits, and renaming of the road.

It is important that the new local road works well for Kāpiti and there will be opportunities for the community to have input into design decisions later this year.

Click here to view the NZTA/Kāpiti Coast District Council project agreement for the revocation of SH1.

Transforming this stretch of highway to a local road is a joint initiative between New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Council. To view the NZTA website, click here.